Suspected Kidnapping Turns Out To Be Bachelor Party Prank

Montgomery County Police were left scratching their heads Thursday afternoon when responding to a reported kidnapping in Bethesda that they say turned out to be a bachelor party prank.

At 1:15 p.m., police were called to the area of the Bethesda Sport & Health Club (4400 Montgomery Ave.) for a report of an abduction, police spokeswoman Officer Britta Thomas said.

A witness saw two men with ski masks get out of an orange SUV and force someone into a vehicle before turning north on Connecticut Avenue from East-West Highway, according to scanner traffic.

Thomas said two independent witnesses reported the incident, which according to an employee at the Sport & Health Club, happened either on Montgomery Avenue or East-West Highway nearby.

Thomas said police were still trying to figure out exactly where and how the event unfolded. But they were able to catch up with the individuals involved, who explained it as a bachelor party prank common in the Indian tradition, Thomas said.

The individuals were not charged with any crime, said Thomas, who also said police were concerned prank kidnappings might become more common.